Window sealing strip for a convertible

ABSTRACT

A profiled seal ( 11 ) for sealing a side window pane ( 19 ) which can be raised and lowered relative to a roof frame ( 1 ) of a convertible has a support rail ( 21 ) and a profiled elastomeric strip ( 10 ) which is co-extruded with the support rail. The profiled seal ( 11 ) is formed three-dimensionally and can be fixed on connection points ( 2 ) of the roof frame ( 1 ) by fixing elements ( 37, 38 ). At least two retaining elements ( 29 ), which are disposed spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction ( 30 ) of the profiled seal ( 11 ), co-operate with the fixing elements ( 37, 38 ) and are connected to the support rail ( 21 ), project out of the profiled elastomeric strip ( 10 ) transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction ( 30 ). Following the co-extrusion the retaining elements ( 29 ) are fixed on the support rail ( 21 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a profiled seal according to the preamble to claim 1.

[0002] In a known profiled seal of this type (WO 01/21425 A1 in the name of the present applicant) a metal support rail is used, with which the retaining elements are constructed in one piece. The material of the support rail disposed adjacent to these mounting areas in the longitudinal direction must be removed in some way, e.g. stamped out. This leads to undesirable waste of the material of the support rail.

[0003] From DE 43 14 191 C1 in the name of the present applicant it is known per se to produce a composite profile from plastics and elastomers which are chemically bonded to one another.

[0004] The object of the invention is to avoid waste from the support rail as far as possible.

[0005] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The retaining elements are produced separately and, following the co-extrusion of the support rail and the profiled elastomer strip, is subsequently fixed at the desired points on the support rail.

[0006] The features of claim 2 simplify the mounting of the profiled seal on the roof frame of the convertible.

[0007] Secure fixing of the retaining elements on the support rail is promoted according to claim 3.

[0008] With the features of claim 4 or 5 a positive locking connection of the retaining elements to the support rail is produced. If need be, an adjustment may be made in the longitudinal direction before the fixing of the retaining element.

[0009] Also according to claim 6 a durable fixing of the retaining element on the support rail is obtained which can be adjusted before its completion.

[0010] The welding according to claim 7 can take place, for example, by spot welding in the case of metal partners or by ultrasonic welding in the case of plastic partners.

[0011] According to claim 8 reliable sealing of the profiled elastomer strip against the connecting part is ensured.

[0012] The features of claim 9 ensure particularly good sealing and also permit simple fixing of the retaining elements between the sealing ribs on the support rail.

[0013] The features of claim 10 improve the “curve compatibility” of the profiled seal by making lateral bending of the profiled seal easier.

[0014] According to claim 11 a particularly rapid and simple fixing of the profiled seal on the roof frame is achieved. If required, this connection can be designed to be easily releasable.

[0015] The features of claims 12 or 13 can be used advantageously according to the application.

[0016] These and further features and advantages of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through the roof region of a convertible with fixed folding roof and attached profiled seal,

[0018]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a part of the profiled seal according to FIG. 1 on a smaller scale,

[0019]FIG. 3 shows a cross-section corresponding to FIG. 1 through another profiled seal,

[0020]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the profiled seal according to FIG. 3 on a smaller scale,

[0021]FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through yet another profiled seal, and

[0022]FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the support rail.

[0023] In all the drawings the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0024] According to FIG. 1 a roof frame 1 of a convertible is provided with a three-dimensional connecting part 1 formed from sheet metal. The connecting part 1 could also be made, for example, from cast aluminum in accordance with the aforementioned WO 01/21425 A1. A lacquered visible outer sheet 4 of an associated roof part 5 of a folding roof 6 is beaded around a flange 3 of the connecting part 2. The outer sheet 4 has an inherently stable peripheral flange 7 which is bent inwards and engages in a longitudinal groove 8 in a foot 9 of a profiled elastomeric strip 10 of a profiled seal.

[0025] The outer sheet 4 can, for example, be glued to the flange 3. The longitudinal groove 8 is formed in a first long edge 12 of the foot 9. An arm 14 of the profiled elastomeric strip 10 extends outwards from an opposing second long edge 13 of the foot 9 at an angle of approximately 90°. A sealing lip 15 is formed on the free long edge of the arm 14 and cooperates with an inner cladding 16 of the roof part 5 to be mounted on the end. The foot 9 and the arm 14 are made from soft rubber.

[0026] A membrane 17 of the profiled elastomeric strip 10 is fixed between a free long edge of the arm 14 and the first long edge 12 of the foot 9. In this case the membrane 17 and the sealing lip 15 are made from foam rubber. The membrane 17 co-operates in a sealing manner with a side window pane 19 of the convertible which can be raised and lowered in the directions indicated by a double 18. In FIG. 1 the window pane 19 is shown by dash-dot lines in its closed end position, whilst the membrane 17 is still shown in its unloaded starting position. There is a hollow space 20 in the interior of the profiled elastomeric strip 10.

[0027] A support rail 21 which is made in this case from sheet metal is connected to the profiled elastomeric strip 10 by co-extrusion. According to FIG. 1 a part of the support rail 21 including its long edges 22 and 23 is molded into the foot 9. Sealing lips 24 and 25 made from soft rubber are formed onto the long edges 12 and 13 respectively of the foot 9 and are biased against a sealing surface 26 of the connecting part 2.

[0028] A base 28 of a retaining element 29 constructed as a bracket bears on an elastomer-free mounting surface 27 of the support rail 21. The base 28 has a longitudinal slot 31 which extends in a longitudinal direction 30 (FIG. 2) of the profiled seal 11. A bore 32 in the support rail 21 is aligned with the longitudinal slot. A shank 33 of a rivet 34 penetrates the longitudinal slot 31 and the bore 32. After the retaining element 29 has been optimally positioned relative to the support rail 21 the rivet 34 is riveted and in this way fixes the retaining element 29 permanently on the support rail 21.

[0029] On its free end which is uppermost in FIG. 1 the retaining element 29 has a bore 35 which is aligned with the bore 36 in the connecting part 2. A fixing element 37 in the form of a screw is passed through the bores 35, 36 and secured by a nut 38. In this way the profiled seal 11 is fixed in its optimal relative position on the connecting part 2.

[0030]FIG. 2 shows principally how the retaining element 29 extends in the longitudinal direction 30. For greater clarity the rivet 34 has been omitted in FIG. 2.

[0031] The embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same as that according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception that the retaining element 29 in the case of FIGS. 3 and 4 is produced as a whole from spring steel. The upper end of the retaining element 29 is constructed as a spring clip 39 which according to FIG. 3 is pressed into a receiving opening 40 of the connecting part 2 so as to latch there. Thus the profiled seal 11 is fixed immovably on the connecting part. However, in this case the profiled seal can also be released again from the connecting part. For this purpose in FIG. 3 a force is merely exerted downwards and towards the right on an upper tab 41 of the spring clip 39 until the spring clip 39 has left the receiving opening 40 again. In this way according to FIGS. 3 and 4 the profiled seal 11 can be very quickly replaced in the event of damage.

[0032]FIG. 4 shows how the retaining element 29 extends in the longitudinal direction 30.

[0033] The embodiment according to FIG. 5 differs from the previously described embodiments in that the support rail 21 is made from plastic which is co-extruded with the profiled elastomeric strip 10. This co-extrusion can be carried out in accordance with the aforementioned DE 43 14 191 C1.

[0034] In FIG. 5 the base 28 of the retaining element 29 is glued onto the mounting surface 27 of the support rail 21. If the retaining element 29 is also made from plastic it can be durably connected to the support rail 21 in a simple manner by ultrasonic welding.

[0035] The connecting part 2 can be fixed on the roof frame 1 in any way, for example according to FIGS. 1 or 3.

[0036] According to FIG. 6 the support rail 21 is provided on its long edges 22, 23 with cut-outs 42 and 43. As a result the support rail 21 in FIG. 6 can be bent relatively easily about an axis perpendicular to the drawing plane. This simplifies the adaptation of the three-dimensional profiled seal 11 to the installation situation on the connecting part 2. Optionally it is possible for only the cut-outs 42 or only the cut-outs 43 to be provided. 

1. Profiled seal (11) for sealing a side window pane (19) which can be raised and lowered relative to a roof frame (1) of a convertible, wherein the profiled seal (11) has a support rail (21) and a profiled elastomeric strip (1) which is co-extruded with the support rail (21), wherein the profiled seal (11) is formed three-dimensionally and can be fixed on connecting parts (2) of the roof frame (1) with fixing elements (37, 38; 39), and wherein at least two retaining elements (29), which are disposed spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction (30) of the profiled seal (11), co-operate with the fixing elements (37, 38; 39) and are connected to the support rail (21), project out of the profiled elastomeric strip (10) transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction (30), characterized in that following the co-extrusion the retaining elements (29) are fixed on the carrier rail (21).
 2. Profiled seal as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the retaining elements (29) are bent into a position which is favorable for the mounting on the connecting part (2).
 3. Profiled seal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each retaining element (29) bears with a base (28) on the support rail (21).
 4. Profiled seal as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the base (28) is fixed on the support rail (21) by a rivet (34).
 5. Profiled seal as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the base (28) has a longitudinal slot (31) extending in parallel with the longitudinal direction (30) for a shank (33) of the rivet (34) to be received adjustably in the longitudinal direction (30).
 6. Profiled seal as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the base (28) is securely glued on the support rail (21).
 7. Profiled seal as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the base (28) is welded to the support rail (21).
 8. Profiled seal as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support rail (21) extends into a foot (9) of the profiled elastomeric strip (10) which co-operates in a sealing manner with the connecting part (2).
 9. Profiled seal as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the foot (9) is provided with sealing ribs (24, 25) in the region of long edges (22, 23) of the support rail (21), wherein each sealing rib (24, 25) extends in the longitudinal direction (30) and co-operates in a sealing manner with the connecting part (2).
 10. Profiled seal as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the support rail (21) is provided with cut-outs (42; 43) on at least one of its long edges (22; 23).
 11. Profiled seal as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each fixing element (37) is constructed as a spring clip (39) which is fixed on the retaining element (29) and can be pushed into a receiving opening (40) in the connecting part (2) so as to latch there.
 12. Profiled seal as claimed in one of claims I to 11, characterized in that the support rail (21) is made from a sheet metal strip.
 13. Profiled seal as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the support rail (21) is made from plastic. 